Waqf Board formally decides to move SC on Ayodhya

LUCKNOW: Attempts for a negotiated settlement in the Ayodhya case received a major setback when the Sunni Central Waqf Board decided to file an appeal in the Supreme Court against the Allahabad high court verdict.

The Board, which is party to the Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute, at a meeting on Tuesday formally decided to approach the apex court, said its chairman Zufar Ahmad Farooqui.

He said they will appeal against the division of the disputed land among three parties as stipulated by the high court.

The Board’s lawyer Zafaryab Jilani had immediately said after the high court verdict on September 30 that they will approach the Supreme Court. With the Sunni Central Waqf Board formally deciding to do so on Tuesday, the chances of a negotiated settlement appear to be receding.

Mr Jilani said the Board would move the Supreme Court after the meeting of the All-India Muslim Personal Law Board on October 16, and there was no hurry as the Board had 90 days to file an appeal.

He said any proposal for negotiating a wayout could be considered in the days to come, but they were not willing to surrender land at the disputed site in Ayodhya.

Several parties to the case had opened a channel of communication with each other after the high court verdict, trying to find an amicable solution to the vexed dispute.

The original plaintiff from the Muslim side, Hashim Ansari, had initiated talks with Akhil Bhartiya Akhara Parishad’s Mahant Gyan Das on Sunday. Mahanat Bhaskar Das of Nirmohi Akhara, another important litigant, had also showed his willingness to talk with Mr Ansari and other parties for finding a solution.